https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty80VJDpaXQ

What I thought was going to be just a collection of old airline advertisements from the U.S. turned out to be a global edition!

Now, in my opinion, I don't know if I would consider all of these to be "television commercials", as some clock in at more than one minute. Some will make you pause and contemplate how much the world has changed. Regardless, there are some incredible rare gems in this set, so get ready for a blast from the past!

I wonder if the Iran Air 747 shown in the video is still flying...

PSAatSAN4Ever wrote:

I wonder if the Iran Air 747 shown in the video is still flying...

It isn't. According to Airfleets.net, EP-IAH was scrapped in 2017

Not 1970's or 80's, but one that is always in my mind is one of the last ones from RG (Varig), around 2005.

Clearly in a goodbye mood, with the planes on the ad not flying, one famous Brazilian singer is singing their new year's jingle around what looks like a 777.

"Santa Claus flying a jet through the skies, bringing a merry Christmas and a new year full of prosperity. Varig Varig Varig!"

https://youtu.be/jXCbAOqiNG8

The jingle itself was created much much earlier, probably in the 60s, but this last one was the most emotional (IMO).

"And now TWA serves you a delicious steak in coach on all 1011 meal flights to the East."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIavXew9bPY

Surely no collection of vintage airline ads can be complete without this wonderfully cheerful VASP commercial:

https://youtu.be/5aswaRTO3z4

My all-time favorite commercial from that era is this GEM from Lan Chile!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5Yyz3Ck1xY

TWA L-1011 Introduction ad, touting the First Class Dining Room(!!), and 2x2x2x2 seating in coach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1_qBeD6oUg

Here in the Midwest this was our local favorite... https://youtu.be/tQFaVy0Kl2Y?list=PLZ49 ... -vMyDNNshM North Central airlines

also https://youtu.be/CMWACwcjlvE Midwest express

Looking at this British Airways ad from 1981, I just have to ask - do they really convert the seats from 9 abreast to 6 abreast by not using the middle seat?

And what's Super Club? Is it Economy or Business? If it's Economy, then is it like Premium Economy? What is it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrjqVCcYA_o

Here's another ad about Super Club from 1984, and it is definitely more classier than the previous ad - the obvious change in taglines & ad agency showing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY5ZOuQYi44&t=14s


Continuing with BA, below are a few ads off their "Fly The Flag" campaign in the late 1970s, which features stewardess Roz Hanby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c5jmAUUwus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey0gYZzGDYM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lncH06EyBk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0B6U4aJWhI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDQ5ZOOayo0


And this is Hanby talking about the campaign in 2018. She certainly aged gracefully.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hV5DjbP92c

[quote="TheFlyingDisk"]Looking at this British Airways ad from 1981, I just have to ask - do they really convert the seats from 9 abreast to 6 abreast by not using the middle seat?

And what's Super Club? Is it Economy or Business? If it's Economy, then is it like Premium Economy? What is it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrjqVCcYA_o

Here's another ad about Super Club from 1984, and it is definitely more classier than the previous ad - the obvious change in taglines & ad agency showing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY5ZOuQYi44&t=14s

Super Club was British Airways' first iteration of a genuine 'business class seat', following some airlines' initial recognition for the need for a distinct business class product, dating from the late 1960s. After tinkering with enhancements to the 'soft product' (separate check in, lounge access, free drinks, meals and headsets/entertainment, etc), Qantas was in fact the first airline to introduce a genuine business class cabin in 1979 with a new generation of 2x2 seating and British Airways followed in March 1981 with the Super Club seat - a more flexible concept which allowed them to operate with a larger or smaller business class cabin, depending on the route. The design of the middle seat allowed for the back to be split into two and a section of it to be lowered to create a table. On the 747-100/200, two lower deck cabin sections (B & C, from doors 2 to doors 4), plus the upper deck, were equipped with these seats. I worked on them at this time. I don't remember the exact configuration of the lower deck zones but upstairs there were 4 1/2 rows of seats which accommodated either 27 economy pax or 18 business class when the seat were converted. It is not very different from what we would think of today as Premium Economy, but at the time it was quite revolutionary and a huge advance on the idea of having a few extra amenities like free drinks but sitting in the same cramped conditions as Economy/Coach passengers.

Here's a link to an interesting history of the evolution of British Airways' business class which includes a few videos from that time:

https://londonairtravel.com/2019/03/17/ ... lub-world/

Some of my favourite ads

Cathay Pacific
https://youtu.be/l6dQvKtCNpE

Australian Airlines
https://youtu.be/WoqSOQEwTao

America West
https://youtu.be/S802GTiYTPY

TWA
https://youtu.be/xyjnWJJB1N8

United Airlines (Australia/NZ Ad)
https://youtu.be/IxQTkAU_qF8

Braniff always had good ads, and I'm kind of a Braniff fanboy, but most of them have been deleted off Youtube. I think someone owns the rights to the brand now and has really been selfish, deleting most Braniff memories off the internet. A Braniff themed hotel is planned in Dallas, so they might be acting like a klepto in anticipation of monetizing the brand's history.

One of my favorites was the "We Better Be Better, We're Braniff!" ad from 1980 where uniformed crew marched hand in hand through their destination cities around the world while singing the catchy jingle. They marched through Dallas, Chicago, Buenos Aires, London, Honolulu, Hong Kong, Rio, LA, Paris, Boston, Miami, and NYC. I still have a copy on my phone from recording it at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field.

The jingle can still be listened to here: http://brandedskies.com/2012/02/jingle- ... tter-1980/

EDIT: Actually, the "We Better Be Better, We're Braniff!" ad can be viewed in this Braniff ad complication starting at the 04:30 mark, alongside some other gems: https://youtu.be/b7UzntAnlcA?t=270

I think Braniff had the most special branding and marketing out there! They were so stylish and creative.


And who can't get a kick out of Braniff's 1960s vision of what supersonic flying would be like in the future. Love the jetpack ground crew and the robots!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZcCpH-G3os


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I've always thought this Aer Lingus ad from the 1980s was its best ever - lovely, slow motion filming, nice classic activity and of course, the beautiful strains of Gabriel's oboe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh7RNm5YOF4